Compare towns

Reading vs Brookline vs Middletown Springs

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureReadingBrooklineMiddletown Springs
People
Population
699
531Lowest
747Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
45.1±2.7Lowest
5% above VT
49.2±5.1
14% above VT
Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Middletown Springs and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.1%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.5Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the VT average
$82,000±$12k
about the VT average
Reading and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$262,200±$24kLowest
17% below VT
Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,208±$438
about the VT average
Brookline and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,595Lowest
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
28 min
21% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.